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Committee Notes:

Well, are we thrilled! The Peace and Justice Center received an award of excellence from the National Association of Ecumenical and Interreligious Staff. How great to be recognized for the work we do. Thanks to all of you who make this possible: all PAJOLA groups, all people, volunteers, friends, all non PAJOLA groups, members, donors, helpers, YOU!!! We all received this award. Congratulations! You can find out more about NAEIS at www.naeis.org .

We are very grateful to our dear newsletter editor, Ruth Imber, for all of her hard work over the years. She will now be devoting her time to other endeavors. Please send all future submissions for the newsletter calendar to MonthlyCalendar@abqpeaceandjustice.org . The deadline and format for submissions will remain the same.

Newly enrolled Peace and Justice member Paul G. Zolbrod has donated a copy of his novel Battle Songs: A Story of the Korean War in Four Movements to our library. The story follows four young men who are thrown together in the forgotten "police action," the Korean War. The beautifully written narrative details the thoughts and feelings, and also the impact of that war on each of the men.

Jenin Refugee kids project: Later this month, I will be returning to Palestine to volunteer, teaching English as a second language to extremely underprivileged refugee children and young adults in Jenin Refugee Camp, in the northern West Bank. Residents of Jenin Camp are very affected by the political situation in the Occupied Territories. They have been in this refugee camp for 3 generations now, with few improvements in daily life. They have a strong desire to learn English that they might qualify for international scholarships, rise out of poverty, tell their stories and more fully participate in the international community. I am funding this project out of my own pockets and could use donations to defray my personal expenses and fund the project itself. Those interested, please send a check or money order {made out to Natalie Sherrod} to Natalie Sherrod, 222 Jefferson N.E., Albuquerque, N.M. 87108. Please indicate that the money is for this project by writing my name {Ben} or "project" on the memo line. I'd really appreciate your help. Thanks, Ben Jones

THANK YOU!! To everyone who supported the fundraising efforts for the New Mexico GI Rights Hotline! The GI Rights Hotline can be reached at 1-877-447-4487. To learn more or to get involved, call 410-7657.

Facilitation Skills Trainings. Know that feeling of success and satisfaction when a meeting has met the needs of participants and planning goals become clear? Skillful facilitation is the key. We want your input to plan trainings. Enrollment is limited. Call Judith at 243-6174.

The International Solidarity Commission of the IWW has been honored with an invitation to visit the Confederation des Travailleurs Haitiens/ Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH), a militant, rank-and-file union federation that operates throughout Haiti. We plan to send one or more ISC delegates to Haiti some time in April. If you are interested in going, please contact us at solidarity@iww.org . We are also organizing a drive for material aid. Haitian workers and organizers face extreme poverty and often lack even the most basic supplies. CTH could really benefit from the following: mega phones (for protests), computer laptops, labor organizing books in French, cameras, and, of course, money. Info: solidarity@iww.org . Info on the CTH: haitilabor.org/ .

This just in: Please contact KUNM and request they play the just released CD IRAQ by Black 47 - the strongest statement yet against the Iraq War (and in support of the troops and bringing them Home Now) released by any major rock band.KUNM has a copy and will respond to requests for songs from this album, including The Ballad of Cindy Sheehan, Stars and Stripes, Battle of Fallujah. For information on the CD, visit www.black47.com . Peace, Bill Nevins